Fluval Edge

[bitsnbobs]

Hi, when I first got the Fluval Edge I was lucky enough to know someone who already had the tank, so I asked if I could have their biomedia bag when they changed it....their tank was running well, established and the water tested fine. So I put that in with a new foam and carbon filter, then let it run for around 3 weeks, tested water again and it was ok. Obviously not ok or the fish wouldn't be dying in it! However, my friend did have an airstone in theirs so now I've added one I hope it will sort it out, there is room for the pipe at the side of the filter box but it does spoil the look of the tank with all these bubbles hitting the top of the glass - but if its better for the fish then thats how its got to be.

What problems are you having with your Fluval Edge? I've got right into the tank having these problems so anything I might be able to tell you which will help let me know.

I now have another tetra dead and stuck under the filter in my other tank, so I am going to have to take the whole thing out to remove the fish!! nightmare......though I am expecting all the tetras to pop their clogs now and I won't buy anymore, they are just too delicate and nowhere near as hardy as the normal blue neons.

Julie

 

[walkers101]

Can I suggest:

Next time you do a water change on your big tank, use some of that water to seed the fluval edge.

As you stated, the test reading are fine on the large tank, you will be transfering some good aged water into the edge.

aged water won't seed anything

 

[Curiosity101]

So I put that in with a new foam and carbon filter, then let it run for around 3 weeks, tested water again and it was ok.

I thought this was probably the problem all along. Your tank isn't cycled... your fish aren't getting sucked into the filter. They're being poisoned and so they're dying, and as they're dying/once they're dead they're getting sucked into the filter.
It's very very rare for a normal healthy fish to get sucked into a filter. So the first thing I'd always question is the water conditions.

Have you tested the water for ammonia and nitrites recently? Ie... today/yesterday?

Oh and the reason your tank isn't cycled (when it should be as you used mature media). Is because you left it empty for 3 weeks. The bacterial colony need ammonia to complete the nitrogen cycle. This ammonia can come straight from a bottle, from rotting food or from fish. But it HAS to be their to begin/maintain the cycle. Ammonia --> Nitrite --> Nitrate. Without ammonia all the bacteria die, which after 3 weeks will be what happened to yours.

Am I right in saying it's been running for 5 weeks, but 3 of those were empty with the mature media? If so then it was only 2 weeks into a fish-in cycle with a lot of fish for it's small volume of water. If you have another tank then grab some mature media from that and fit it into the edge's filter. Or if you can ask your friend nicely then get some more from them.
As far as I'm reading it's now empty right? So you have a choice as to whether to fishless or fish-in cycle it. Please read the links in my signature so you fully understand what cycling is and can make a proper decision for yourself whether you want to go through the hassle of fish-in cycling (lots and lots of large twice daily water changes for awhile, and twice daily water testing), or if you would find a fishless cycle easier.

Just 2 notes:
You don't need the air pump, that wont fix the problem.

Don't blame the fish, it's not that they are weak or fragile. It's that they were poisoned, just like any other fish would have been. 'Hardy' or 'Fragile' shouldn't often come into it when you're picking fish. Cause if you know what cycling is and how to carry it out then they should never be exposed to dangerous levels of toxins in the first place.

Edited: Cause I just re read the replies and noticed the fluval is now empty.

 

[Bazza57]

Can I suggest:

Next time you do a water change on your big tank, use some of that water to seed the fluval edge.

As you stated, the test reading are fine on the large tank, you will be transfering some good aged water into the edge.

aged water won't seed anything

Maybe not, but it's gotta be a whole lot better than stuff out of a tap full of chloramin. besides if it's good in the guys bigger tank - you know its safe!
If bitsn'bobs having trouble getting the fluval edge started - why not take a short-cut if there is already an established tank to seed from - got nothing to lose

 

[Curiosity101]

Maybe not, but it's gotta be a whole lot better than stuff out of a tap full of chloramin. besides if it's good in the guys bigger tank - you know its safe

Tap water - use water conditioner

Tank water should be no 'safer' than tap water which has been conditioned. If anything tap water is better as it's fresh, ie. no build up of organics like nitrates.

 

[bitsnbobs]

Hi and thanks so much for the info on the cycling. Maybe it was because I left the tank running for 3 weeks, however these yellow neons are still dying in my big tank and the other fish are fine.

I have decided to do a cycle with the fish in the Edge, I have time to do water changes daily and the water was tested yesterday, checked out fine (I have the Master Test kit). I always use Aquasafe by the way.

I have actually put 4 male guppys in the tank,(so far so good) so will test water again today and do water changes as per your advice...I am going to leave the airstone in though as I feel this is helping with the oxygen levels in the Edge, I have looked at the air going in from the filter with the light on in the tank and there doesn't seem to be a great deal of air circulation in there, plus with the filter on high there seems to be too much water flow for the fish to cope with.

Thanks again for the helpful tips and I will keep my fingers crossed!

Julie

 

[Curiosity101]

The fish don't die because of the ammonia present in the water... they die because the ammonia burns their gills. Eventually they get burnt so badly that regardless of how perfect the water stats are they will still die cause they just can't get enough oxygen. Hence why they still died in your main tank. Just trust me on this... it will be ammonia poisoning that killed them, not the fact that they are or aren't 'hardy'.

Also, bubbles aren't what aerates the water, it's the rippling of the surface water that is open to the air that introduce oxygen (and removes CO2). So although the air stone is likely to be causing alot more water movement at the 'open' bit of the edge which is good, the 'lack of air circulation' in the whole tank isn't what you might think it is. So long as there is a current going around the tank, ie. no dead spots, then the freshly oxygenated water will be carried around, it doesn't need to be full of bubbles.

Do make sure you're testing really regularly, 4 guppys to cycle an edge is quite alot of fish. Personally I'd only have 1 in there to be on the safe side. But so long as you're ready for the water changes to keep ammonia and nitrites below 0.25ppm, then good luck.

 

[Bazza57]

The fish don't die because of the ammonia present in the water... they die because the ammonia burns their gills. Eventually they get burnt so badly that regardless of how perfect the water stats are they will still die cause they just can't get enough oxygen. Hence why they still died in your main tank. Just trust me on this... it will be ammonia poisoning that killed them, not the fact that they are or aren't 'hardy'.

Also, bubbles aren't what aerates the water, it's the rippling of the surface water that is open to the air that introduce oxygen (and removes CO2). So although the air stone is likely to be causing alot more water movement at the 'open' bit of the edge which is good, the 'lack of air circulation' in the whole tank isn't what you might think it is. So long as there is a current going around the tank, ie. no dead spots, then the freshly oxygenated water will be carried around, it doesn't need to be full of bubbles.

Do make sure you're testing really regularly, 4 guppys to cycle an edge is quite alot of fish. Personally I'd only have 1 in there to be on the safe side. But so long as you're ready for the water changes to keep ammonia and nitrites below 0.25ppm, then good luck.

Yep, agreed -sound advice, can't fault that

 

[bitsnbobs]

The fish don't die because of the ammonia present in the water... they die because the ammonia burns their gills. Eventually they get burnt so badly that regardless of how perfect the water stats are they will still die cause they just can't get enough oxygen. Hence why they still died in your main tank. Just trust me on this... it will be ammonia poisoning that killed them, not the fact that they are or aren't 'hardy'.

Also, bubbles aren't what aerates the water, it's the rippling of the surface water that is open to the air that introduce oxygen (and removes CO2). So although the air stone is likely to be causing alot more water movement at the 'open' bit of the edge which is good, the 'lack of air circulation' in the whole tank isn't what you might think it is. So long as there is a current going around the tank, ie. no dead spots, then the freshly oxygenated water will be carried around, it doesn't need to be full of bubbles.

Do make sure you're testing really regularly, 4 guppys to cycle an edge is quite alot of fish. Personally I'd only have 1 in there to be on the safe side. But so long as you're ready for the water changes to keep ammonia and nitrites below 0.25ppm, then good luck.

Yep, agreed -sound advice, can't fault that

 

[bitsnbobs]

Curosity 101....many thanks for your great advice!! I have not replied before now as I didn't want to temp fate, you saying I had put too many fish in the Edge.....they said it would be fine at the shop though?

At the moment, fingers crossed and touching wood as I type it, all is well - I have been following your instructions to the letter, water changes daily and testing daily - fish alive and kicking, eating well and appear happy and healthy.

I did omit to say that when I stripped the tank and gave it a total clean, I only changed the filter and carbon bag, but used the same Biomedia bag...so perhaps thats the reason the fish are ok.

I won't add this many fish at the same time again, as I said in my first post I have not had tropical fish for many years and it was a lot different then.

With regards to the bigger tank, a Juwel, I was not very happy with the filter, only a sponge required, no carbon nothing, although I did put a carbon pad in it, but was a real squash to get it in. So I changed it for a Fluval U2 using the old sponge from the Juwel filter. Although all the Yellow Neons died, which I expected, the rest of the fish are fine - there are only 5 Bloodfin Tetra and a couple of catfish in there at the moment. Will not add any more fish for a few weeks until I am sure the tank is mature enough.

I was thinking of a couple of Dwarf Gouramis for the big tank, but have read they are very prone to disease? I'll have a look on this forum and see what everyone says about them. I know they like lots of plants, some flowing and the tank is full of real plants - also the PH; temp ect is right for them when the time comes.

Thanks again for the sound advice.....Julie

 

[walkers101]

Curosity 101....many thanks for your great advice!! I have not replied before now as I didn't want to temp fate, you saying I had put too many fish in the Edge.....they said it would be fine at the shop though?

thats your problem right there you do realise that LFS are a business and selling fish makes them £££ think about it

 

[Aqua Tom]

Curosity 101....many thanks for your great advice!! I have not replied before now as I didn't want to temp fate, you saying I had put too many fish in the Edge.....they said it would be fine at the shop though?

thats your problem right there you do realise that LFS are a business and selling fish makes them £££ think about it

Exactly,

I was in my lfs today buying some moss on wood & had the following conversation,

After i had pointed to the java Moss that I wanted,



lfs "ok, I will bag that, by the way have you got any mossballs"?

Me "Why do you ask"? (I have two)

lfs "We recoomend you get a few of these as they help with the water change & cycle".

Me "realy"?

lfs "yes they are great at it"

Me "So exactly how do they help with the cycle then"?

lfs (looking a bit sheepish now) "well they trap particles in the ball"

Me "and this helps the cycle how"?

lfs "well you just take the ball out & give it a rinse & it gets rid of all the particles"

Me "cool so that will help a bit with maintenance, but how will it help my cycle"

lfs (actualy looking embarresed now) "I am not actualy sure but my boss told me they do"

Me "Thanks for the advice, I will have that bit of Java moss there please"


He was just trying to sell me somthing I did now want or need to make a profit, which is exactly how all buissness works.

I do enjoy putting them on the spot though

 

[Curiosity101]

Technically his boss was trying to get him to sell you stuff you didn't need... but the point does stand.

 

[waterdrop]

enjoyed that

 

[Aqua Tom]

Its all down to the advice & information that I have got from this site. While I am no way an expert i do consider myself quite knowledgable now & do enjoy using that knowledge when shopping or answering questions.